Thomas County cat., 1887-03-17
A BIG ORDER.


ITO write down what we want from
the store" said Susie. "'cause we for
get things. and the man said he wished
we wouldn't make him come up more'n
twice day"
That's good idea" said Charley,
and he went into the dining-room to
get his supper He had been to the
pasture to bring home the cows. and
had not arrived in time to eat with the
others.
Susie WIS washing dishes. and Alice
was wiping them. They had song
which they sang sometimes when they
were doing ;hls work. They made ii
UP themselves. These are the words:
Oh, the ha .cful dishes
iwish we could throw them away,
And get new ones every day.
Then we could go and play.
They weren't singing tonight;
they were '.sceing which could get done
first"
You can set that pan on the stove
to dry" said Alice; II don't have to
wipe it."
..Yes, you do said Susie. 1--WE only
dry the iron things on the stove"
''Is there anv more breal? called
Charley from the dining-room.
"Yes." answered Susie. '.you come
out and get it; my hands are in the dish
water.
'Never mind
And he went down cellar and got
some pie.
A little while after Alice passed tn e
window and looked out.
IF there isn't that black hen with
one of her chickens right on your
fower-bed" she cried.
Out rushed the two little girls. wav-
ing dish-cloth and towel.
Just then Charley, having finished
bis supper, came out into the kitchen.
He began dancing on the bare floor,
one Of those figures consisting of jump
ing. standing. waving the arms and
shufiling the feet. which boys are prone
to indulge in. As he went through
this performance the slate again caught
his eye.
''It's to write down what we want
from the store. is it?" he said. and.
taking the pencil. he added to the or
der already there:
5pounds ginger snaps.
dozen herring.
dozen Orang
Is dozen eggs.
Then he picked up his hat and went
whiStlin~ ont the door,
The next morning the chillren's
mother was upstairs making the beds
when she heard the grocer's wagon
drive up to the gate. She looksl out
the window. and the grocer's man
looked up to hsr:
''Do you want to send an order this
morning."
"Yes." said the children's mother.
''if you 90 around to the kitchen You
will find it written on the slate that is
hanging over the table"
An hour la.er she was still in her
room when the chatter of childish
voices below became unusually eX-
cited. and there was \ rush up the
stairs. Mother. can | have an
orange?" Can l have one of those
de-ear little cookies?"
20 mamma. there's a 10: of funny
little fish down here. and they smell
just rs queer!'
'.What are You all talking about?"
she asked. going to meet them.
''Why. the things from the store. and
mamma, the man said they only had
ten dozen eggs. and he would bring the
rest tomorrow"
Ten dozen eggs! Why. goodness.
Susie. what is that the baby has?"
''It's one of the herring" said Susie;
'.you little rogue. You went and got it
yourself" "Well. must see what all
this MEANS" said the mother. picking
up the baby and going down stairs.
disposed you d look at the order be-
fore you sent it. was all Charley could
say when he came in.
''YOu must take the things back to
the store, and make an explanation.
said his father.
Take the eggs first. Charley" said
his mother. ''yOu may break them if
you try to carry all at once"
Charley started off with the eggs ir
q tin pail. He had not gone far wher
be stopped to watch two boys in yaru
practicing at swinging pals of water
around their heads. To do this skill
fully was just then the height of ambi-
ton with Charley and his friecds.
"Bet you couldn't swing tL.se egg,
'thout breaking them" ''Bet !
could" And what did that boy do but
try! He said the eggs wouldn't have
fallen out if the handle hadn't been
crooked.
That is now it came to pass that he
hadn't any money to spend on the
Fourth of July. and why he was chop
ping wood while the other boys were
in swimming.-L. H.. in N. T. Tribune.
SWORDFiSHES' HABITS.
How They .'Spear'' the Bottoms of Ships.
When Anyry- Old lSeliefS Abuut Them.